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Transport Canada says it will investigate whether a drone flew near an Air Canada Jazz flight from Halifax to St. John's.

On an Aug. 3 flight the pilots said they narrowly missed hitting the flying object, which they could not identify.

They described the object as a red and white vertical tube with a rotor, and said it flew as close as 300 metres above them.

Under Canadian regulations, anyone wishing to operate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has to get a Special Flight Operation Certificate. Transport Canada says the technology is still new and the "regulatory structure" is not in place, but it requires operators to demonstrate that they can safely and reliably operate the UAV and have an emergency plan. They also must inform Transport Canada of the proposed location where the UAV will be flown.

The agency is looking into whether a violation occurred and if charges are merited.